Guide for sail-rigging



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

J. W. SHARBETT. GUIDE FOR SAIL RIGGING.

Patented June 26, 1883.

F 6. I I 6.9 I

4 1M (9 I Witnesses. u [12 wanton- I aw ,hflwai (Ea- Miudiel.) I 26Smezets slfweii 2a J. SEA BRETT;

GUIDE FQB; SAIL EIGGING. N0. 2729,9851 Patented June 26, 1883.;

[72 went f 92cm 2 UNITED STATES.

AIENT trier...

JOHN IV. SHARRETT, OF PORTSMOUTH, VIRGINIA.

GUIDE FOR 'SAIL-RIGGING.

SPECIFICATION forming part or Letters Patent No. 279,985, dated June 26,1883. Application fil'ed October 3, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN W. SHARnnrr', a citizen of the United States,residing at Portsmouth, in the county of Norfolk and State of Virginia,have invented a new and useful Improvement in Guides for Sail-Rigging,of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in rigging-blocks, in which,instead of the circular sheave or pulley, I use a number of guiderollersarranged in a semicircle or segment of a circle, which rollers soarrangedoccupy but one-half the space required by the old sheave orpulley, while the cost of the blocks 'will be reduced.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of one of myimproved blocks with rope around its rollers, and represented as ridingupon a spar or yard-arm, the latter being shown in section. Fig. 2 is abottom viewof the same,having' its rope shown in section. Fig. 3 is anelevation of a deck-block constructed with guide-rollers, and shownswinging on a pivot in a stationary frame or stand. Fig. 4 is a top viewof the same. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section of a spar having one of myimproved blocks inserted therein. Fig. 6 is a top view of the same. Fig.7 is a top view of a deck-block similar to that shown in Fig. 3, buthaving a double set of. semicircularlyarranged guide-rollers. Fig. 8 isa perspective view of one of the checks or outer portions of said block.Fig. 9 is a perspective View of the inner or partition plate of thesame. 'Fig. 10 is an elevation of a traveling block with guide-rollers,and adapted to move on a guide-rail, which is shown in section. In

this view a portion of the casing or shell of the block is broken awayand the exposed rollers shown in section. Fig. 11 is a top view of thesame, and Fig. 12 is a vertical .section of the same in the line w w ofFig. 11.

' Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The block A in Figs. 1 and 2 consists of a divided shell, 01. a, ofsemicircular form, and a number of. rollers, B, fastened between saidshell by means of their shafts b, and arranged in a semicircular curveas shown. The shell a a may be of open or closed or partly open andclosed construction, as circumstances may require,

'thus a chance are formed with shoulders.

used for operating the sails.

be protected against the In Figs. 1 and 2 the cheeks or parts a a of theshell are shown as being formed with a curved rim, (1.", whereby theback or outer side of the block is closed up, and whereby also the partsa a are kept at a proper distance from each other. This construction ofblocks is adapted specially for use on spars, upon which the blocks aremade to ride, as illustrated in the draWings -Fig. 1, wherein the spar Ois shown in cross-section; and thus applied the block may rock and yieldto the inclination of the rope or brail passing through it, or it may bemoved longitudinally upon the spar to be placed in the mostadvantageousposition for the operation of the brail.

In Fig. 3 the block A is shown pivoted at b, by one of theroller'shafts, to a stationary stand, D, on the deck of the ship, and ithas to swing freely to either side in following the boom, which istacked by. this means instead of by the old traveler-block.

The checks or parts a a of this block (shown in Figs. 3 and 4.) areformedat top with ears a, which bear against each other and serve asstays for keeping the cheeks a a at a proper distance from each other.In Fig. 5 the checks or parts a a, are shown as held separate by meansof stays a, of ordinary construction. These might be dispensed with ifthe pins 1) This block, provided with rollers B, is permanently fastenedinto the end of a spar, E, in alongitudinal position, and itholds orguides the ropes or sheets The lower side of the spar E may cuttingaction of the rope by metal thimbles or ferrules F.

I In cases where it becomes necessary to use more than one semicircularset of rollers B,-

they may be arranged side by side, as are the circular sheaves in theordinary blocks, or as represented in Fig. 7, one set of shafts, b,answering for the two, or several sets of rollers B. In this block, Fig.7, a middle part or partition, a is used in conjunction with the cheeksor outer parts, a a, of the block, and this middle part, a is providedwith ears of on either side, which are constructed to meet the ears a ofthe outer parts, a a, as shown in Figs. 7, 8, and 9.

For the ordinary traveling block' used in tacking the boom I substitutea block, A, as

shown in Figs. 1o, 11, and 12, provided with the rollers B; This blockis provided with a central-aperture; G, by means of which ittravels'uPon a rail or rod, H. (Shown in sec tioninFig. 10 Therespective parts a (if a T of the shell or casing are in this blockprovided with an innerriin a? whereb the a erture G is formed and theparts "arekept'a' proper-distanceapart from each other. In

all'ef the above-described constructions the; shafts bof the rollers Bare vpassed through theshells or casings of the blocks and riveted attheir "ends; but, if desired, the shafts may be provided with suitableshoulders-orstops, in order 'to assist the rims a or ears a in keepingthe parts of theshells at aproper distance from one; another, asdescribed. In'lieu of the riveted ends of shafts b, other suitable meansof fastening may be adopted, such as screw-threaded ends and nuts orkey-pins, as deemed most advisable.

The construction of a block with a semicircularly-arranged series ofsmall guide-rollers has important advantages over the use of one sheave,inasmuch as it does' away with the heavy side wear encountered with theone adapted to its various uses than the-ordinary 2" l erases:

ends to flat segmental plates, and such rollers 3 5 and platesibeingapplied to the spar in such a manner asto admit the sail rolling insidebe-' tween the spar andthe rollers, as described and represented in saidpatent. I also am aware of Letters Patent No. 179,126,- which representsan ordinarystyle of singleor double pulley-block with apeculiarlyconstructed frame, and therefore I- do not claim anythingshown in said patent; but a What I do claim as my invention, and desireto secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination of guide-rollers having concave peripheries, andarranged in a-seg ment of a circle, with a rigging-block shell, A,provided with a passage between the rollers and the outer inclosingportion of the shell,

through which the rope or brail passes, substantiallyas and for thepurpose described. 2. The combination of sets of guide-rollers havingconcave peripheries and riveting-axles, and arranged in segments ofcircles, with a rigging-block-shell, A,consisting of the seetionsfa a/if, having cars a, whereby a double block with a passage between therollers and the ears (1* for the rope or brail is formed, and saidsections are kept at the proper distance from each other when rivetedtogether by the axles of the rollers substantially as described.

J OHN W. SHARRETT.

- Witnesses: p V

J o'HN W. SHARRETT, Jr.,

WILLIAM W. Rorrms.

